#polls are hip w the kids and all that

[uchitabletop]

Let's make a DND character!

(bonus: if any of these options tie or get close to a tie, the character will be mixed!)

[ccscocoapuffs]

Late Again- Johnny Silverhand Smut (March Madness Winner 2024)

The sun shined bright through the window of my small apartment in night city, mornings like this are the ones I could never take for granted. The view of night city despite this shitty apartment was one I don't think i could bare ever being away from. As I roll over a view I enjoy much more greets me.

"Good morning, Johnny" "....what time is it?" "9:45" "fuck....if it double digits I ain't waking the fuck up yet" "come on sleepy head, rogue has work for us this morning remember? you know how she hates it when we run late" "yeah yeah....five more minutes." "Johnny...come on we gotta go" I picked up and pillow and flopped it down on his head as I giggled at his irritated groan.

"if you're gonna make me get up can I atleast taste that pussy first?" "JOHNNY!" "What?! shits like coffee to me" "you're an idiot" "I didn't hear a no". Johnny quickly grabbed my hips and flipped me underneath him while he kissed down my neck onto my collarbone.

"Johnny we gotta...oh fuck" Johnny always had a way of going directly for that sweet spot on my neck that he knew makes me fall apart. Yet right now he knew exactly what he was doing by making us late. "I gotta deal for ya kid" "What's that?" "give me 20 minutes to fuck you into the mattress then we can still make it in time to go see rogue sense your so concerned about her yelling at us" "Fine but if we are late I'm gonna tell her it was your fault" "Just shut up and let me fuck you already".

Johnny slide his boxers off and started to slowly stroke himself with his precum leaking from his tip. I couldn't help myself from nearly drooling at the mere size of it. Johnny has always been a very big boy down below yet it never fails to surprise me every time I see it. He reaches forward with his right hand and rubs soft circles on my clit while his left hand reaches up to my neck. Damn how i love the cold sting of the metal against my burning skin. "You're fuckin soaked.....that all for me?" "yes.." "yes what?" "yes sir" "good girl..." Johnny leaned down spreading both my legs and place them on my shoulders before shoving his tongue into my soaked hole.

"Fuck! johnny!", Johnny continued to eat my soaked pussy like it was his last meal adding in his fingers in the process was no surprise as he loved to give me a little extra while he got his fix. "Fuck sweetheart you taste like fucking candy..." "mmmm johnny!" "thats it scream my name let the whole fucking building know whose fingers are in your pussy" "FUCK! please...please just fuck me already" "You want this cock princess?" "yes...please" "deal".

Johnny quickly adjusted himself before slamming into me without warning. "OH fuck!" Johnny's thrusts were relentless as usual yet I knew exactly what he was trying to do when he reached down and started to rub fast circles on my aching clit. "you gonna squirt for me, princess? hmm? you gonna soak the fucking sheets for me" "Fuck yes please Johnny Faster!" "yeah you like that? you like being my messy slut?" I felt the strong churning in my stomach as Johnny continuously quickened his pace. "Johnny.... gonna....im gonna!" "cum for me princess"

I most certainly didn't need to be told twice as I felt myself soak the sheets below as my orgasm rushed through my entire body. The overwhelming release almost made me drown out the sounds of Johnny's deep moan as he came inside me. "fuck.....princess so good for me" "Mmm thank you" "no thank you, baby best way to start the morning is with a pussy in your face" "dear god.." Just as Johnny leaned down to kiss my head the phone rang on the bedside table signaling to us both we were indeed once more late again.

"guess we're late huh?" "you're telling her why we are late, mr. i need my morning pussy" "i don't regret shit!". Though we may be late with Rogue again I can't help but hope I can wake Johnny up more often.

A/N: super simple Johnny smut for the March Madness poll #3 winner lemme know if yall wanna see more of Johnny in the future K BYEEEEEEE

[blue-slxt]

It Was Supposed To Be Us - Chapter 1

A/N: So Neteyam's fic won the poll and I'm so excited to start this new journey with you guys! The plan is to release each new part weekly. So this series will update every Monday. If that changes for any reason, I'll update you guys about it. For now, I hope you all enjoy this intro chapter.

Next Part

Pairing: Neteyam x Fem!Omatikaya!Reader

Warnings: Mentions of depression? Mentions of bullying, arranged marriage, that's it for this part.

Word Count: 2.8k

Summary: You and Neteyam are childhood friends. You got to be so close that the two of you promise to be mates when you're older. But when the Sully family has to leave the forest, you wait for him to return and fulfill his promise to you.

“Why are you crying?” a small voice snuck up behind you. The sound of your own sobs drowned out the footsteps approaching you. Your knees pressed to your chest and your head hidden in your arms, the tears seem to be never ending. A young boy around your age comes over next to you. He squats beside you and takes in your sorry form. “Hey”, he reaches out a hand to touch your shoulder, but you flinch away from him. “I’m Neteyam.”

You sniffle and look him up and down being cautious of the interaction. You recognized him finally as the Olo’eyktan’s son. “Can I ask why you are crying?”

Why did he care? He didn’t know you.

“Some kids were making fun of me for being short.” It was a regular occurrence. You stood almost a whole foot smaller than what was average for your age and you never heard the end of it. Kids were cruel. But you had never spoken with Neteyam. If you were being honest, you were just waiting for this whole interaction to go south.

“Well, that sounds stupid.” He says knitting his brows together in confusion.

You focus your gaze ahead and sink into yourself. “It doesn’t matter. It happens every day.”

“Well, next time, just come find me and I’ll make them stop. I’m a warrior after all.” He puffs out his chest and holds his head high grinning down at you. He was beaming with confidence. The complete opposite of you.

You wipe away your tears and look at him in wonder. Nobody had ever offered to take care of you before.

“Hey, you stopped crying! Here.” He fiddles with some of the items around his waist and pulls out a woven piece of cloth. He scoots closer to you and you don’t shy away from him this time. Neteyam holds your shoulder to steady you while he uses the cloth to clean your face.

He’s a little sloppy and rough, but you’re thankful for the gesture all the same.

“Come on, I’ll show you how to shoot an arrow.” Before you can protest, he already has a hold on your wrist and is pulling you along.

This feeling was something totally new to you. No one had ever treated you so kindly before. Especially not another kid. He took care of you. He was nice to you. He didn’t tease you even though his frame towered over yours. Instead, he opted to use his stature to protect you. And he did just that.

Before long, you and Neteyam were joined at the hip. It was like he was your shadow. Kids tried picking on you again, but Neteyam was always there to fend them off and nobody dared to mess with him. Soon, they left you alone too. He quickly became your favorite person. Your safety.

With you two being so close, Neteyam’s parents would often joke about you both mating when you got older.

“What happens when you mate with someone?” You innocently blink up at Neteyam’s father. Neteyam cocked his head to the side wondering too and waiting for an answer.

His dad was clearly flustered and attempted to come up with a suitable answer. “W-well, when you mate with somebody, you love them so much that you promise to be together for the rest of your lives.”

Your ears perk up and a big smile crosses your face “Oh! Well, then I definitely wanna mate with Neteyam!” your small tail swishing excitedly behind you. Your tail often gave away however you were feeling. You look over at Neteyam and his smile mirrors yours. “Let’s promise to be mates when we’re older!”

Neytiri smiles warmly from across the room finding your relationship endearing.

“Promise.” Neteyam smiles at you.

Everything was much simpler then. You were just children. Children with big dreams. And over time, you got bigger and your feelings grew with you. You always had a deep admiration for Neteyam since you first met him. He was strong and confident and loyal and charming. You always wanted to be at his side. He radiated a joy that was infectious. You were never unhappy with him. Even on your worst days, he always managed to brighten your mood. And as you got older, you felt the stirrings of something deeper. The connection you shared was undeniable, but this was something different from what you were used to. It was like it was the beginnings of love blooming in your chest.

When he talked, his voice felt like velvet against your ears. And when he touched you, it made your breath hitch in your throat. And his smile…Eywa, that smile, you just wanted to melt.

But, of course, you could never tell him this. There was no way you were going to risk your friendship over this. If he didn’t feel the same way? If you couldn’t be at his side anymore? Your whole world would crumble and you could not bear that. So you choose to pine after him in secret and stay by his side as his person. You would even go help Mo’at in her tent with Kiri so that you could help patch Neteyam up after missions when he would get hurt.

You would both still say that you were going to be mates when you grew up, but you knew the chances of that actually happening was slim. He would likely find a pretty girl to love him and bear his children and lead the clan with him. The thought of it made your heart ache, but this was the way things were and you had to accept it.

Everything went out the window when the sky people returned. The Sullys were leaving. Neteyam was leaving. Your person, your love, the one you had promised yourself to. Your heart shattered.

This can’t be real. It can’t be. It’s too cruel.

You spiraled down further and further into a darker place in your heart. You couldn’t find the strength to drag yourself out of your hammock half the days. There was no appetite to be found and smiling was nothing but a distant memory now. The only time you emerged from your home was to carry yourself to the spot in the forest where you first met Neteyam so that you could cry your heart out in peace. Today was no different. Your feet carried you through the dense forest, retracing the same path you took day in and day out. This time, Neteyam beat you there.

You slowly approach him and, to your surprise, it looks like he came for the same reason as you. His face was covered in tears when he looked up at you and your expression was the exact same. You both sat in silence with each other for what felt like hours. Neither of you knew what else there was to say. Both so fragile that words could shatter what sliver of control was holding you together right now. But you couldn’t stand it if your last day together was spent in silence. There was still so much you wanted to say to him and things you wanted to experience with him.

“It’s tomorrow, isn’t it?” your soft voice croaked out.

Neteyam could only nod, afraid of what sound may leave his lips if he tries to speak.

Your hand creeps over to cover his making him finally look you in the eye. “I’m gonna miss you.” You try to muster a smile, but your lips falter and tears flood your eyes again. He could feel your sorrow. And suddenly, you looked just like that sad little girl again that he found in the woods all those years ago. It was like torture.

His hand comes up to find your face and stroke your cheek. You relish in the feeling for as long as you can. You try to memorize every detail of this moment. As heart-wrenching as it was, it was still so beautiful. He was so beautiful. “Promise you won’t forget me?” you try to lighten the mood feeling the increasing weight on your chest.

“Oh, ma girl, there is no way I could ever” he presses his forehead against yours and you two share a breath, “I will always be yours.”

His words bring you a small comfort, but not enough to crowd out the pain. His arm comes around your waist to scoot you in closer to him. Your bodies press together and you rest your head on his shoulder. Holding each other, you both let your tears free flow, feeling that same familiar safety with each other one last time.

Getting lost in your thoughts, you almost don’t notice when Neteyam cups your face and makes you look at him. The eye contact is intense. Millions of unspoken feelings behind it. He slowly leans in and closes the gap between you capturing your lips in a tender kiss. Your first kiss. It’s timid and sweet, but it makes you feel like fire. His lips are warm and inviting. It’s everything you’ve always dreamed of and it’s on a day that you wished never had to be. A cruel irony. Your first kiss on your last day together.

When he pulls away, he gazes at you with all the love of the last 8 years you’ve spent together. “I’ll be back for you as soon as I can. Once it’s safe, I’ll come for you.”

You give him a sad smile, but nod your head. You know Neteyam always keeps his word when it comes to you so this time should be no different. If he says he’ll come back for you, then he will.

…

Everyone gathered early the next day to see the Sully family off. Jake passed the title of Olo’eyktan to Tarsem. He was well-liked and respected by the clan. He would be a good leader. But you still couldn’t help the ache you felt. The family made their way through the crowd to head towards their ikrans. As he walked past you, Neteyam’s eyes met yours for the last time and he held his gaze on you for as long as he could. You offer him a small wave seeing him disappear off into the crowd. And you feel a piece of yourself disappear with him.

‘He’ll be back. He will be.’

The following days seemed to all blur together. Nothing was the same. The sun didn’t seem to shine as bright and the air was harder to breathe. It was like a never-ending nightmare having to learn how to be without Neteyam again. Life before him didn’t feel real anymore. A long-forgotten, miserable existence. This was the smallest you’ve ever felt. You never thought you’d be back in that place again. Never thought you’d be without him again. And yet, here you were. You still drew breath and your heart still beat and the world around you continued to go on.

Your parents concern for you grew in the passing weeks. The change in you was clear enough to see from the other side of the planet. They would bring you food and water that you could only manage a few bites of at any given time. They prayed to Eywa to heal your broken heart, but it seemed that it was of no use.

The weeks dragged on into months and the months into years. Before you knew it, it had been 2 years since he left. The pain never got any lighter, but you grew better at handling it. At times when you felt your grief would overcome you, you would remind yourself that he was coming back. He was. People would look at you full of pity whenever you mentioned Neteyam coming back. Believing you were just desperately clinging to a childhood fantasy. The people pitied you and so did your parents. They knew how attached you were to Neteyam, but they were worried about your refusal to accept life without him.

It was going to be time for you to start thinking about finding a mate soon. Whenever your parents would bring up the subject, you would hear nothing of it. You had already chosen your mate and he had chosen you. You just had to have patience. Denying any suitor that came your way, your parents’ concern grew with each passing year. They feared for your future. They didn’t want you to spend the rest of your days waiting for someone that wasn’t coming back.

They would try and try and try to convince you to give other men a chance. Even going so far as to try and set you up with sons of their friends. It was of no use, none of them compared to Neteyam in your eyes.

Soon, 2 more years had passed. You were now 19 and still without a mate. As far as the people were concerned, you were in your prime. This is the time where everyone is starting to choose their mate. And you were still unwilling to take anyone else. That didn’t stop your parents, though. The other day, they sat you down to inform you that they had taken it upon themselves to arrange a mate for you. Since you had refused to take a mate on your own, they picked someone for you. His name is Ralu. He’s tall and mild mannered and a good hunter. He wasn’t a bad choice. He just wasn’t Neteyam.

You did your best to hold your composure when they introduced you. He smiled when he greeted you and was polite to your parents. It made you feel bad. He seemed nice and you wanted to want this, but you couldn’t bring yourself to forget who your heart actually yearned for.

You found yourself back at your usual spot in the woods. The spot where it all began. Every now and then, you would half expect to see Neteyam sitting there carving or sharpening his knife. It was like your heart would forget for just a moment. But when you came into the clearing and saw the empty spot, you would remember. And the remembering was a whole new injury to your already battered heart.

Lying in the grass, you stare up at the sky and watch the ikrans fly overhead. The trees swayed and the wildlife chirped around you. It was like every sensation scrubbed your mind clear of your messy thoughts. Would you really have to live the rest of your days like this? With a man that was wonderful in every respect, but you didn’t love? Your parents had already promised you to him. You awoke every day wondering if it would be today. The day that Neteyam promised you would come. When he would finally come and you could be together again. You willed it with every fiber of your being. A sound abruptly snaps you out of your daze. The sound of horns in the distance and cheering. What was all the commotion?

You follow the sound of the crowd and you can sense the intensity through the lush of the forest. It grows with every step closer. You finally catch up to the gathering crowd and do your best to push through all the taller bodies to get a clear view of what was going on. Cheers and murmurs of ‘toruk makto’ ring through the crowd. Toruk makto? Jake? It couldn’t be.

Ikrans land at the front of the growing crowd and you feel your stomach jump up into your throat. It was the Sully family.

Cheers erupt through the crowd as the family lands and you weave through everyone to make it to the front. They’re back. That means that he’s back. He came back for you just like he said he would. You stumble through, but it doesn’t slow your pace.

You break out of the crowd to the front and watch as the family dismounts their ikrans. They’re all visibly older. Your eyes roll over each one of them looking for him. Your eyes meet Kiri’s and she smiles at you. As much as she wants to run and hug you, she knows who you’re really looking for. She places her hand on the shoulder of the much taller boy next to her and he turns around. It’s Neteyam. He looks in your direction and it feels like your chest is going to burst open at this very moment. His eyes soften and light up at the sight of you. You both may have gotten older and changed, but there’s no mistaking that smile. You’d know it anywhere. It’s the one thing that’s made you genuinely smile in years.

He takes off running full speed towards you. He scoops you up and twirls you around in a tight embrace. You hold onto him like he’s still not real. You don’t want to let go out of fear that he’ll disappear again if you do.

He sets you down on your feet and looks at you with tears welling in his eyes. Your eyes start to sting with all the emotion of the last 4 lonely years.

“You came back.”

“I told you I would.”

[swinging-stars-from-satellites]

not including myself in this for obvious reasons ajdjdjakjfakfn. some more propaganda for everyone:

my brother consistently goes out after worship practice and buys donuts to share with the entire team.

his bestie the teenage sound guy has called my brother "the light of my life" and I think it was actually unironic

I forget how many kids she actually has bc they're almost never in one place but she is AMAZING. she always has a hug and kind words for anyone around and is an amazing worship leader

the keyboardist is also occasionally a sound tech if needed and ALSO ALSO is occasionally a drummer if needed. it's ridiculous how talented he is. he just. Does Stuff. and it works. I could never

my dad goofs around just as much as everyone (this team is a bit of a rodeo) but he's definitely a bit more chill. he makes dated mainstream music references and then groans LOUDLY AND DRAMATICALLY when the younger members of the team don't get it. there's also an abundance of weird niche bassist humor.

I love my sister in law SO much she's amazing. she's got terrible stage fright. and YET. she is also a total dweeb during rehearsals. I have never heard a human being make some of the noises that she makes just to be silly. singlehandedly convinced everyone in charge to put on a dedicated worship night later this summer after everyone else has been kicking the planning can down the road for months

we have three main backup singers and all of them need a biiiit more confidence but also. that's the age. they're all in youth group so that's good. get those kiddos into the Word!!!! their commentary on worship team goings on are hilarious though bc they're newer to it and often just a bit confused by the older/more experienced team members playfully ribbing each other about things

one time I couldn't figure out where the on button for my computer monitor was (usually turning on the computer itself turns it on) and he walked around the other side of the booth and pushed a button I hadn't noticed on the back of it and I was deeply embarrassed but he was super chill about it. also he's helping me fix our lighting setup which has not worked literally in the time either of us has been at this church.

please help this man he's so busy and so dorky and really, really loud all the time. you would assume he's constantly overcaffeinated yet he actually hates coffee and never drinks it. he actually makes faces when he sees other people (me) drinking coffee. attempted to use Tumblr once bc he heard me talking to my mom about it. doesn't even know how to use Tumblr. this man is so weird and yet tries to be Hip™ so much. at this point it's probably For The Bit

[levymcgarden55]

It’s time for some happy stim appreciation!!!

Happy stims are a lot like normal stims, but ones you do when you’re happy and/or excited. It’s like you have so many positive emotions in your body that you just need to move & express them.

Picture it: you’re telling a bunch of kids they get season passes to a theme park. Do they sit still? No! They laugh and jump up and down, because they’re just so excited they couldn’t possibly sit still.

Did you know that humans are not the only ones that show happiness through their actions? Cats make biscuits, dogs wag their tails, and multiple animals do tippy taps! Personally, my go-to is wiggles.

If you’re thinking “but wait, I don’t stim when I’m excited,” it might be that you repressed the impulse, possibly as a masking measure. My partner w adhd & autism didn’t happy stim either, but then she saw me happy wiggling and it made her so happy that *she* started wiggling too. Now it’s just how she happy stims.

You might say “I’m probably neurotypical / don’t have a diagnosis / etc. Can I still happy stim?” The answer is YES, the more the merrier! I love seeing people when they’re excited and it’s just so much more fun when they flap their hands or jump up and down!!

I wanna celebrate all the different ways to happy stim, so,

[everythingsinred]

Sorry-- this is about the poll post you reblogged:

Natsume was in a poll??? A catboy poll??? He's not even a catboy!! The stupid fecking mask isn't even something he wants to wear, and he doesn't even wear it for most of the series rrraaahhhhhh I'm gonna go flip a table

i'm kinda unreasonably ticked off by that idk why

he was indeed in a catboy poll. i understand why you'd be a lil annoyed bc yeah the cat mask isn't his choice. i do believe he IS catlike anyway, just based on his behavior (he is a cat, really)... but im gonna be entirely honest i dont really know what a catboy is supposed to be. i'm not really hip w the kids.... lol. like, is it a boy who acts like a cat? bc then... yes he could fit bc he's catlike in his personality. not even in a cringe way. or is a catboy a boy who dresses as a cat? bc if thats the case, then no he shouldnt win on the basis of the cat mask being a torture device, etc (tho i DO wish he wore it more bc it was supposed to be his symbol and he was supposed to wear it on all his missions and tbh it feels like higuchi tachibana just forgot abt it and that bugs me).

i think natsume deserves to win whatever poll he's in just because he's perfect, but it's a little unfair to pit him against much more popular characters from trending anime. i'd rather ppl just NOT include him, especially since he was only included to create more rounds on the poll, not bc op actually cared abt him as a character, but i can't enforce that even if i wanted to so. cest la vie and all that.

[iam-kenough]

Will  you ever notice me? Arthur Morgan x Original Female Character

Summary: During they wandering in deep snowstorm, man from van der Linde gang found odd looking girl and Dutch decides to take her to camp to see if she can be any use, leading life of outlaw with them. Quickly, new girl develops feelings towards Arthur, but he sees her just as a kid...and she won't take that! It's an original character story that starts in the place where Arthur, Dutch and Micah were supposed to first meet with Sadie. Instead she's already with them.

Authors notes: It’s second chapter and you can find the rest of chapter on my blog if you want to read more of my fanfiction.

Word count: 2978 Chapter 2

It was next day's evening when they landed on new camp's place. Everyone started arranging their tents and some of them decided to go to the lake and bath after long trip.

- The water is so damn cold! But it was nice to take a bath after all those hours- Iris was talking to Mary-Beth and her teeth were chattering. She decided to wear woolen dress Mary gave to her, not being even slightly suspicious why Iris would wear a dress so badly. It was nice, wine red and warm one. She decided to tweeze her brows a little bit and she brushed her long, black hair putting them in loose bun. Even though she will undress and wear only chemise in her bed in less than 3 hours.

Iris looked around and sighed. All good places for a tent were taken and she couldn't sleep with girls in their tent 'cause it was too small. She had to prepare her own but there was only one way left to do that.

- Knock, knock - she said awkwardly, knocking on one of polls holding Arthur's tent. He was on his coot, drawing something in his journal. It catched her attention. Didn't know he's romantic soul who would sketch while sulking like this.

- How can I help ya? - he closed the book and looked at her shyly. He analysed her posture in new clothes but very quickly so it wouldn't scare her or make her uncomfortable. Girls usually didn't like his sight on them.

- Will it bother you if I will place my tent right next to yours? All good spots were taken when I took a bath - her cheeks flushed a little bit. She even tried to flirt with him and bat her eyes, while she squeezed fabric of her dress.

- It's rather if I won't bother you, kid.

If I could I would devour you right here, Mr Morgan and you would be the only person not bothering me. I would undress you from your bright blue shirt which matches your eyes so good and I would let you pop my cherry...

- You'right out there, kid? Asked ya if I won't bother you.

- N-no, never. Thank you, Mr Morgan - she jumped into the air and disappeared to set her tent. It was mirroring his and when she was looking above her trunk she could see him, deeply in his thoughts. Honestly, if they would rearrange it a little bit more they would have big, shared tent with two beds next to eachother. But she they wasn't close enough for Iris to ask for it even if she wouldn't mind.

Later that night they had supper prepared by her and Mr Pearson. Almost everyone was eating together but she noticed Arthur hidden in his spot. She went to her tent and sat on the coot mirroring his position.

- I hope it tastes good? - Iris asked after few minutes. He raised her eyes surprised at her.

- You eatin' with my poor companion? I see everyone gathering around the fire.

- They're all nice and stuff but I like to eat in peace. You're not bad to be with, Mr Morgan.

It sounded a little bit frivolous and she actually liked it, surprised with her own temper.

He blushed. Or rather tips of his ears did.

- It's just surprising 'cause yall girls are always eating together. And yes, this stew is amazing - he liked his fingers and brushed his dirty mouth with his sleeve.

Normally she would jerk away on this kind of behaviour but she giggled at sight of big man eating messy like that.

- Girls are okay, especially Tilly and Mary, but Karen has...a little bit to intense character. Oh, and Dutch's girlfriend. That lady hates me.

- She hates everybody, dont'cha worry.

- Today she hit Dutch with a book, saying he's throwing me looks - Iris was giggling and she brushed loose hair behind her ear.

- Looks, ya say? Oh don't worry, you just new, that's why he does that, kid.

- She's rather young too, you know. It's just the make-up she uses, makes her look older.

- Ya say? Nah, you still look like kid to me. With all those freckles and you being thin. Not so sure you should go with us to rob that train, I will have to watch you all the time - his voice was low and he chuckled.

Ouch, that was bad! So he doesn't like freckles...It's nothing I can do about it. But maybe if I'm gonna eat more I'll stop being thin, get some bust maybe and then-

- You sure you want to sit here with me? You seemed bored with my old feller talkin'.

- I-I am not bored at all. Can you show me what are you drawing?

He brushed his chin, sign of him being shy and he passed her the journal. On two pages he drew their whole new camp.

- I must say you can draw, Mr Morgan. You've got talent - she passed the journal back and their hands brushed against each other. She blushed again.

- Talent that's useless for sure - his voice was low and nice and he almost sounded like purring cat. Iris felt knot tying up in her stomach.

- It's not, it's not! - she shaked her head - I find it really pretty. You could draw something for me one day - it was supposed to be flirt and she bit her lower lip but he didn't notice that. He just cheered up.

- What you like, then? I can draw it for you - he patted her arm in friendly manner. They were so close right now, their faces next to each other. She could smell him.

What do I like? Your lips, your intriguing eyes, the fact that your hair was so messy and the fact you smell like whiskey, cigarettes and sweat.

- Flowers - she said plainly, looking at her feet - Any flowers are good. Or animals. I saw you sketching deer one day.

- I've been hit on my head a lot so if I would forget remind me of it, kid - she looked at him once again and licked her lower lip, becoming red on her cheeks. He started looking at her quizzically.

- I think you catched a cold, kid, you seem burning up. Better go to sleep, tomorrow's a day too.

Knot in her stomach popped and she lowered her head. Kid, you say. Im gonna show you, one day I will gain weight, have some reall boobs and nice mature dresses and you will look at me the right way. She got up a little bit too quick, tears forming in corner of her eyes but he was facing her back almost immediately and he didn't see.

- Y-you right, I don't feel my best - she answered with shaking voice and she rubbed her eyes - I'm...gonna get some rest. Goodnight, Mr Morgan.

- Uh-, yea, good night - he read her bad, he was sure she's sick but she seemed rather irritated by the fact he noticed? I will apologize tomorrow.

She put on the curtain between the halves of tent which was giving them privacy now and she sighed. At first she looked in small mirror she owned and analised her own face. You ugly, Iris.

Girl looked at herself quizzically. Big, green eyes with long lashes and nice, pink lips but then freckles happened, covering her nose and cheeks. Her hair were jet black but wavy instead of sleek locks of other girls around. Iris started undressing herself and she looked at her figure with disgust. She had round hips and long legs, but that's it. She looked thin and had small breast and that was not what men would look at. It's not what he would look at.

When she put on her night gown and layed down she looking at tents ceiling and thinking. Oil lamp in Arthur's half stopped giving light, he was going to sleep. She heard him getting comfortable on his bed and after few minutes he was breathing heavily.

She drifted away in her sleep, thinking how it would be to cuddle his big frame.

Another few weeks passed and in this time Iris tried her best to prove she's mature and strong but also femine at the same time. It was difficult to kill a man at 4 and then acting like a subtle lady few hours later. It was nice, warm evening and girls decided to go swimming after long day of work. Iris was so happy and relaxed as she and Mary - Beth was looking at red sky and Tilly with Karen was fooling around in water.

- Can I tell you a secret? You will like it - Iris whispered. Mary seemed excited immediately.

- Tell me, tell me! - she giggled

- I fell in love - Iris whispered to her ear and her friend become red from blushing.

-No way! Who, who is he? Or maybe she? - Blond girl tickled brunette a little bit.

- It's him, yes. But I wouldn't mind you...- they purred at each other and then burst into laugh.

- Who? I bet it's John, all girls are sweet on him and Abigail hates us for that.

-Nope!

- Bill!

-No!

- New O'Driscolls boy!

- Ew!

- Then who, Dutch?

- You must be crazy! I mean...he's not bad if you think about him but this red-head witch he's with? I have no chances - Iris was laughing so badly.

- You have to tell me! But then it has to be someone from outside the camp...

-No! He's there, Mary-Beth, please don't make me say his name out loud.

And then Mary became pale. Then red again. Then she got up.

-No! From all of them you choosed Arthur Morgan?!

- Shhh! We are too close to the camp!

- But why?! He's sweet but we have never seen him with woman, you know. I think he's a little bit weird about it. Dutch once laughed at him taking a bath with a dog when camp had one.

- W-Well...he seems a little awkward and he's like wild animal more than a man but he's charming and he always complemented food I make and he always talks to me in the evening.

- At least he talks to you, he usually doesn't. To no one.

- That's my problem, he talks to me but he seemes to see me as a kid. I tried everything! Few days ago I was sitting with him and we was both reading a book and I looked at him so nicely, I tried my best to look at him with hazy, flirting eyes. And he asked me if I needed glasses because I blink a lot.

- Well...I don't know how to help you - Mary said as they were walking towards camp - usually it's easy, a little bit of exposed skin and being close. You should try it.

- I should...I should go to his tent dressing my nightgown for example?

- Oh, that's an idea! I saw it and it's really cute and...hot.

-Mary- Beth, are you hitting on me? - she joked as they was passing Hosea's tent. Girls heard him talking with Arthur and they would ignore but they heard Iris's name. They started listening immediately, hiding behind the tent to eaves dropping.

- And this new girl, Iris's her name - Hosea said.

- What's with her?

- Just wanted to know what you think about her - he seemed to tease Arthur a little bit.

- It's good kid, she seems to like my company. And honestly, I like hers, she doesn't talk that much comparing to any of you fools - he cleared his throat.

- I thought that you are much closer. Basically sharing a tent and talking every evening...

- What d'ya say, Hosea?

- How long have been since you had a woman, Arthur?

- Not long enough to think about it again- his voice became angry in the nick of time - it's kid we talking about, don't get the wrong idea.

Iris inhaled sharply and bit her lower lip, while her eyes became glossy. But she listened, she couldn't stop.

- Isn't it obvious, Arthur? She looks at you very odd way and she enjoys your company a lot, lot more than others.

- I didn't notice. By the way, she's not stupid. I'm much older and I have past, just no way I would be with her. She doesn't love me to start with. One day she will leave the camp to have a normal life.

Sound of tears dropping on Iris's dress was the only sound she was making. She got up quickly and in a blink of an eye disappeared, running into the woods.

- Iris?! - Mary- Beth tried to follow her but she tripped over one of tent's strings. She sweared ugly.

This is bad, so bad - was all Iris was thinking. Her breathing heavy, her eyes red. She stopped in the middle of nowhere, just when she was sure all around her was dark forest. She didn't even know why she was so agry. Maybe because he said out loud things I thought about myself? Maybe because she was sure that his ears getting red were sign of him considering her as someone hot?

But look at yourself, c'mon. When father lived, he always told you you gonna become a maid, because no man would touch something so fragile, that looks constantly sick. He was right, oh so badly right. And now Iris had to apologise to Mary-Beth for leaving her like that.It was dark night when she got back to the camp, everyone sleeping in their tents. Only one oil lamp was glowing. She decided to act like nothing happen, just not to lose his friendship, ever. So she took a deep breath and peaked her head inside his part of tent.

- Just wanted to say good night, Mr Morgan - was all she said, smiling faintly.

- Kid! You weren't there for supper. Did something happened?

- N-no...just small fight with girls - she lied without hesitation. Then smiled a little bit more so he won't be suspicious. He always was but he was taking her lies as an answer, 'cause she lied when it would expose her feelings.

- Small fight made you disappear without word? Y'got hot head then - he joked. His blue eyes were piercing her.

- Maybe a little - he didn't see nothing good about her anyway, she could become hothead in his eyes even it was inappropriate for woman.

- Wanna talk about it?

- With you? I-I mean we can but it's nothing. Really.

- You seem sad lately, kid. Is someone or something bothering you?

- Ah...no, just stupid, girly things.

- Girly things - he seemed a little bit scared now.

- Interests of heart, to call it. Nothing too exciting, especially for you.

He became silent. So she wasn't considering him as a close friend if she didn't want to tell. He thought different for a second but...she was right, he was no friend.

- Were you ever in love, Mr Morgan? - he heard her voice from behind one of trunks. She probably lied on her bed.

- F'course I was. But if you askin' me 'bout those things ya need to share with me first, ya know? What are those Interests of heart, huh?

She took deep breath. After few seconds she knew how to tell it without being obvious.

- I just fell in love with someone who will never accept me. He's good friend and that's only reason I didn't tell him yet. But I know....I heard what's he talking about me, no need to share my feelings with him, because he considers me strongly as a friend, nothing more. It would make our relationship awkward.

He furrowed his brows. So she was seeing someone. He wondered who.

- That sounds a lil' bit bad, kiddo. Maybe I don't look like but I know how to have a broken heart - he said as his eyes become glossy. She couldn't see them anyway, so he didn't hold back thinking about Mary right now - But if it's your friend he shouldn't judge ya, ya know. Even if he doesn't share feelings with you. You sure, he does not?

- One hundred percent sure - she said that very slowly because those words left bitter on her tongue - and I'm not afraid of being judged, I just know it would destroy our friendship.

- He's no friend then - Arthur replied shortly. He felt like dumbass but if she liked talking to him about all of this he felt appreciated.

Iris took deep breath. You are a friend. The closest one I have now after those weeks that passed. And I will cherish you forever, even if your lack of knowledge will hurt me sometimes.

- He is. About this I'm sure. I really love this person. Thank you, Mr Morgan for listening to me - it sounded like she thanked him for listening but she was actually thanking him for everything.

It seemed like yesterday when they rescued her but it wasn't. Many days passed and she already shared with him many thoughts but also many jobs, even dangerous one. They robbed trains together after all. They was murdering together. And every evening they were lying in their beds and talking. They usually looked at their tent's ceiling but she didn't mind. He seemed so sad and distanced, always worried. She also noticed his extremely low self-esteem, he always was talking that he's not good man and that he's stupid on account being hit on the head to often.

She had fallen asleep to those thoughts.

[daikenkki]

MrDonald09: Since Series 22, what new change has annoyed you the MOST??

tttedrawings: Fantasy sequences and the intro/life lessons outro, they just make the episodes shorter, and most of the time aren't really needed at all.

MrDonald09: Ah yes unfortunately you can only have 4 options on Twitter polls, I’m sure the list would be huge if you could have more.

MasonDey1: To me the whole concept of the Steam Team is just pointless.

MrDonald09: Yeah it limits the characters that are used most of the time.

PSideplates: I voted for bouncing since it's closest to the general "kids show" tone that BWBA takes on. It really is like watching a show you put on for your 3 year old so you can leave the room in peace. It hurts to watch. If we were getting the Brenner era where the engines bounced, had ugly details, went worldwide, and got Nia and Rebecca, I'd be miffed but accept it. But BWBA just claims to be TTTE and acts like a generic preschool show. And I don't wanna be in a position where I'm an adult watching a preschool show.

MrDonald09: Agreed. I feel proud to be a fan when I watch classic era and Brenner era, but if it was like BWBA throughout the whole show I can tell you I would not be supporting it now.

TCKRangeltoon: I blame Chuggington.

PSideplates: I don't. Chuggington ended before they came up with BWBA. If anything, Chuggington made the market for train toys/shows competitive which forced HiT to make good Thomas products, well toys anyway.

ronniethe14xx: Honestly, disagree with the point it's the most general kids show tone. Travelling seems to be the new hip and cool thing to do in kids shows, I'd argue that makes it slightly worse then the bouncing because it's clear Thomas only jumped on that trend to be "hip".

JovanniChavez11: Faster pace and Thomas losing his identity. I don’t mind Thomas going on a trip but that wasn’t the way to handle it.

MrDonald09: Yes. IMO it should have stopped after the BWBA special, I think it should have only been a special.

Bostonthomasfan: Don’t really mind the bouncing but it can be over done at times. For around the world? I wish there were more episodes on Sodor and less around the world. Like 18-8 would be good.

MikeArc31375512: The bouncing. Loathe it with a passion.

ThomasTVNostal1: The thing I hate is constant arguing over opinions.Some people have been told to fuck themselves for disliking an episode of BWBA that the majority of the fandom likes and vice versa. This is unacceptable. As a fandom, we're a team and we help each other out.

ChillerB3: The forced feminism with Nia, Rebecca and the newer Steam Team really rubbed me the wrong way, more than hyper bouncing and worldwide shit did.

MrDonald09: Same, especially how the majority of the audience really doesn’t care about that, having more females, great! but don’t mess with many people’s childhood to make SJWs and toxic feminists happy cuz I guarantee you the people who wanted this change probably don’t even like the show.

ryanburges4472: I didn't read properly and the real thing since Series 22 that has annoyed me the most is the bouncing. I've been more bothered about the steam team without Henry (Just Henry). I'm happy with Edward sleeping at Wellsworth.

MrDonald09: Yeah, I completely agree honestly i’m not mad that Edward isn’t in the Steam Team anymore. It's Henry that annoys me the most.

ryanburges4472: I know! Gordon and James sleeping at Tidmouth without Henry. Edward is best at Wellsworth because he has a branch line which stars from Wellsworth.

CoolCar161: Henry and Edward stopped appearing as much anyway. They haven’t been good characters since series 4, even in the Brenner era they had little to no appearances due to writer's block. Rivets is a nice little detail that makes them seem more real, Thomas always wanted to see the world and the bouncing is hardly that bad.

TheBlueE21: Thomas' world tour. It's so inconsistent. Doesn't tie into the movie that hyped it up, never explains why or for how long Thomas is in each country, 1 ep he's in China, then Brazil etc then Sodor eps act as though he never left due to always being there. Plus most sets aren't great.

halfbakedhex8: For the record, I voted the 'rivets' option because the inclusion of the new detailing runs so counter to what the show is now, that trying to inflict reality onto the now-very-unreal engines feels very confused as to what the show is trying to achieve.

BluebellThEngin: The "bouncing" doesn't bother me much at first, but as time went on, it starts to get a little out of control and it kinda bugs me. I don't have a problem with the added details like the rivets, but they do look a little too big. Shrink them in size and they'll be okay. I'm mixed on Thomas travelling around the world if I'm being honest. The new Steam Team is what bugs me the most out of all of these options. I never liked it to begin with (minus my child self). It makes the other characters look useless. What I love about the Classic Series is we got lots of stories about almost each and every single one of them it makes the series interesting. But with the Steam Team, not only does it focus on the main characters so much, but it also brings them out of character. Especially if it's for the sake of the plots.

fan_ttte: The New Steam Team with Nia and Rebecca is what I don’t like most. I don’t mind the bouncing or rivets, Thomas going worldwide is okay. I don't know, I just feel like it would’ve been better if Nia and Rebecca did join, but also keep the others, for some interesting interactions and episodes.

islandofodor: If Thomas hadn’t gone worldwide, we’d probably still be in the Brenner era. Granted, it’d still be a slight step down but the international episodes barely take advantage of the different setting and opt to use generic plotlines that we’ve already seen on Sodor.

thesaddletank18: Bouncing, rivets and worldwide idea are bad but the new Steam Team is just....why was this done to the show?

Jacob34335638: I liked the new details, I’m mixed on the New Steam Team, and Thomas travelling the world. But the bouncing is what pisses me off the most, it literally makes the show look like Chuggington. The bouncing was at it’s worst in Journey Beyond Sodor and Thomas’ Magical Birthday Wishes.

TWR_Douglas_10: ALL OF THE ABOVE!!!!!!!

DFox1203: Is everything an option?

TheWinnerGuyCJP: Voted worldwide cuz it makes Thomas completely out of character.

SoupyGunzilla: I think a lot of the stories suffer from the shorter time. A lot of them could be better if they had more time.

kofi_milky: The bouncing, more sing alongs, replacing Edward and Henry with Nia and Rebecca. Even Thomas going worldwide. When the Rev. W. Awdry said "Here is your friend Thomas the Tank Engine. He wanted to come out of his station yard and see the world", the world that's he meant is Sodor.

sodordaily: Choosing New Steam Team because I miss the old SO MUCH!

peter_sam_no4: I think for me the bouncing as it’s so unrealistic . A 1 ton lump of metal can not swing all over the place like it has no weight.

Growlithemaste1: I hate the bouncing the most, but the rest are all useless too.

sixteen_dnw: Worst is the New Steam Team, then worldwide, then rivets, and then bouncing. TBH it doesn’t bother me too much.

BearsFlush: It annoys me that Thomas travels the world, as they remove chapters that might be focus on Sodor, and the locations and some engines are not represented correctly on the railroad.

VacentTest: I’m fine with the New Steam Team changing Edward and Henry out for Nia and Rebecca, I’ve always supported it in the beginning because increased feminism is good. Thomas going worldwide, that didn’t annoy me cause I was interested in that, the rivets is minor and nothing to worry about. But the bouncing, annoyed me the most at first but I’m used to it.

SnatchyBoi: The bouncing and the New Steam Team.

GWREngine: The New Steam Team is the most annoying change. It feels like Mattel doesn't care how special Edward, Henry, and Toby are. Plus we don't need to have more than 1 female main character. Emily being the only girl used to make her special. With Nia and Rebecca around, she isn't special anymore.

TurnTable2002: Chris Renshaw's music really annoys me.

MichaelfromNZ1: Bouncing, worldwide and New Steam Team. They represent how far Thomas has fallen since Mattel fully took over.

ArmchairRailway: New Steam Team.

TI4MGP: This is probably the hardest time I’ve had deciding on one of your polls lol. I went with the Steam Team though, but bouncing comes in a REALLY REALLY close second. The other two are less but equal with each other.

jack_bench: TBH, I'm fine with all of them? But I chose bouncing because the rivets are neat, world-tour - while it makes no sense - has a valuable goal (and is kinda fun), and the Steam Team really needed more female representation which we got with two positive role models in Nia and Rebecca. Bouncing is unnecessary, but not horrendous.

Holycro1Michael: Everything!

JosefSnowBall: Rivets was something I actually liked seeing on some engines. Bouncing is something I’m OK with, it’s kind of grown on me. New Steam Team sucks because it gets rid of the 2 best engines, Edward and Henry, and Thomas worldwide sounded like a bad idea to begin with.

TheThomasFan: Probably Thomas going worldwide . The animation is shit and it’s all just recoloured.

TheUnluckyTug: The new Steam Team. I think I'd be a little more accepting of BWBA if Edward and Henry weren't so transparently and obviously thrown to the side and treated as if they don't exist. It was like the biggest "fuck you" to fans ever.

MrDonald09: Yeah, not to mention Nia and Rebecca have such generic personalities they can barely hold a unique episode nowadays. I can understand Edward staying at Wellsworth but they did Henry DIRTY by slapping him at Vicarstown so he can focus on his Mainland duties yet not do any episode focused on this new job.

SteamEn83954980: Ok so ignoring Emily, it was a perfect 1-7 number of characters and now it's just 1, 18, 22, 4, 5, 6 and 12. Like I know it's minor but that fact gets under my skin.

DBlue02: I voted for the bouncing, but yeah, I kinda have to agree with Simon Martin’s opinion on the Steam Team concept, it’s long since overstayed its welcome. I’d prefer a nice balance of the main and side characters getting their share of the spotlight, like in the classic seasons.

TFan512: What if Edward, Henry, Nia and Rebecca were all part of the main cast.

[popscenery]

tUnE-yArDs, »Bizness«

by Garry McKenzie

My 2010s were an inverted bell-curve, musically speaking.

I started with a couple of years on radio, but it soon became apparent the imminent increasing of my brood would put pay to that. The middle years were spent vocalising songs to help rock bub to sleep (Joe Strummer’s X-Ray Style was a favourite), followed by the Wiggles, Georgie Parker, Sharky and Bones (aka Captain Bogg and Salty), and deliberately subverting the lyrics of nursery rhymes to howls of indignation from my discerning audience. (“He called for his pipe and he called for his bowl and he threw them out the window…” “Dad! Don’t!”)

Hobbies reverted to those whose enjoyment could not be ruined by crying, a strident demand or that stream-of-conscious monologuing only primary school-aged kids maintain enthusiastically and endlessly. For sanity I retreated to older favourites for my daily commute. So, short of the ubiquitous big, big hits and the odd Pop World Cup, I felt cut off from contemporary music for the first time, more or less, since I received Smash Hits ’87 for Christmas.

It was not until this year, with kids now too busy for Dad, that I could I deliberately listen to as much unheard music as I could. This was partly to help me recover my passion, and partly to finally vote in Freaky Trigger’s end of year poll with a vague sense of authority. Small steps and all.

So how to pick a track from this decade. Would it be from two years of engagement at the start of the decade? The theme-tune to Abney and Teal? A new passion from this year? The ubiquitous big, big songs don’t need my support.

In a decade where most of my favourite moments were non-musical, I’ve chosen a track which stayed with me throughout, surfacing when I was down to raise me back up. Something from the clutch of early decade tunes which made it onto that commuting playlist otherwise dominated by music from the previous 30 years.

Those two radio years were spent cruising MP3 blogs and websites like Negrophic and the dearly departed Dutty Artz, feeling hot and cold about Pitchfork and still buying the odd edition of Wire magazine, especially if there was a cover disk. I had a radio show to feed, but my CD buying days were now nappy buying days.

Somehow, in this milieu, I heard tUnE-yArDs’ Bizness. It hit all my musical sensibilities of the time. Clattery percussion loops? Great! Snappy brass solo? Brilliant! Idiosyncratic vocals? Loved them! Plus a great clip as a bonus. I became hooked. But my mind was too busy to wonder why I loved it.

Not that I really needed to. Such thinking doesn't always help.

Now I can see why loving Bizness made sense. It wasn’t a conscious decision, but the song linked in with the music I was thinking a lot about about at the time.

Adapting to parenthood and the accompanying loss of identity, I’d spend part of 2010 compiling a list of my favourite tracks of the Noughties. Those ten years had been time half spent on an earlier radio stint in rural climes, before relocation to the big city, where I ended up doing midnight to dawns with just me and the rats down the corridor for company. It was my first full decade of adulting, but the music was still there every day.

Number one on my Noughties list was Yo La Tengo’s version of Nuclear War, especially the jazz version. Despite being seven years old, it was still in my mind in 2010. Clattery percussion? Check. Snappy brass? Ah huh! Idiosyncratic vocals? Definitely, especially Georgia.

When Bizness dropped, it pushed the same buttons (though not that button) Yo La Tengo did. But there was something else going on as well. Loops added and subtracted, building up to euphoria, then falling away to a pause before a final burst.

tUnE-yArDs’ Merrill Garbus is two years younger than me. We are from the electronic looping generation. I’ve only read a few interviews with Garbus, and none recently, so I am not well versed in her influences, but we were the generation when the synthesiser and sampler grew to prominence, and as children we heard them.

They were used in advertising jingles. They were in TV show and movie themes. Axel F. Jean-Michel Jarre. It was the sound of space music. Surely we’d be living on a neon-tinged moon soon.

We may have been too young for the earliest Detriot House and early hip-hop, but those infected the pop music and electronica of the late 80s and early 90s. I got to uni as the 90s electronic scene was still at a height, before (I felt) it disappeared up its own fundaments with microhouse and glitch. Drum n Bass and ambient and ‘90s house. Even Kraftwerk were redoing their back-catalogue. Loops layered, building to euphoria, then falling away to a pause, or a suspended drone, holding the tension.

In 2010 I also compiled a belated list of my favourite tracks of the ‘90s. Number one on that list was the ultimate in loopy addition and subtraction, the euphoria-building, mid-song pausing of LA Synthesis’ Agrophobia.

Multiplying Nuclear War and Acrophobia together sound-wise does not produce Bizness. But philosophically it does. Real instruments with an African-tinged rhythms layered using the same tension and release tricks of 90s electronica. In a post-everything musical world afforded by foot-controlled samplers, a brilliant artist produced Bizness. It was a child of the music of Garbus’ and my life-times but also fresh and vibrant thanks to a fine ear and vocal dexterity.

Bizness stuck with me though another child, a more cluttered life, an increasingly sludgier head, pirate shanties, Big Red Cars and the possessions of every nursery rhyme character being thrown out the windows, the window, the second storey windows… (“Dad! That’s not how it goes…”)

My decade, musically, might have been a muddle for the best of reasons, but Bizness cut a line straight through it all.

[dunyashas]

What would you think the Crows would be like in a modern au?

so kaz would be that ride or die kid who would help you bury a body without asking any questions. one word texter. always leavin ppl on read. super ominous, all the time. has a snapchat but he never snaps anyone. still uses a cane, and gets suspended for beating other students with it. still as over-dramatic as ever. probably calls himself dirtyhands bc it gives him street cred. “hey kaz why do you drink black coffee it tastes awful” “suffering is like anything else. live with it long enough and you learn to love the taste”

if this were a cheesy teen movie, inej would be the basic love interest who is a girl but!!! like sPOrT???!!! unheard of??? to the boy population at the school. most boys think she is just one of the guyz but one local boy sees something ~*more*~ and there’s a slowmo scene in the hall where they make eye contact but then she brushes off the boy to go skateboard or something equally better than love (she gets w the guy in the end but thats lame skateboarding is more fun)

jesper is meme-central alright like he just doesn’t stop and kaz keeps threatening him but jesper just mocks it back to him w his hands on his hips. would rather send an unrelated meme than an answer to a serious question. he dresses like macklemore. literally, he buys all his clothes at a thrift store. and he’d pop tags. kids can’t really gamble in the modern world, and there’s not a lot of epic gun showdowns, so he’s gotta get his adrenaline from somewhere. wylan is proud of him for getting through one shopping trip without stealing anything, but as soon as they’re outside, jesper yells yeet! and throws wylan a bright blue fedora he’d shoved in his backpack. 

wylan is already a pretty modern kid? rich white kid who plays the flute?? runs away from his parents. he probably let anyone copy off his homework at first but after getting in with kaz, some of dirtyhand’s cruelty rubbed off on him and sure he’ll let you copy off him still, but what is he going to get in return? his style of humor is gay jokes. anything he doesn’t want to do? homophobic. someone blocking his way? “move, i’m gay.” sometimes does prank videos but only on kuwei.

nina. food blogger. instagram famous. probably does youtube makeup tutorials, and “what i ate today” recipe videos. fights for a ton of different causes and uses her platforms to bring attention to gofundmes and campaigns to donate to. always super busy hanging out with a hundred different people. sometimes she takes off days for herself and gives herself a lil spa day. and somedays she just stays home to watch romance movies and try creative popcorn combinations. (popcorn and pickles or popcorn topped w syrup?? posts a poll on twitter. pickles win but she strongly disagrees)

matthias pretends to hate his name in nina’s phone (brooding yellow 🌷) but he really loves it. pretends to hate nina’s cheesy romance movies but he really loves it. just really loves nina. he’s probably big into sports, any sport, all sport, mostly hockey. has a really quiet social media scene; probably just posts videos of his husky talking. nina is always trying to explain memes to him and he only starts understanding how to use it after it’s died. probably wears socks and nike slides.

kuwei is a certified nerd™. will stay up until 3am watching bad memes, illuminati theories, and bill nye. actually got along rly well with wylan when they were kids. only has a ginger ale at raging parties bc one time kaz thought it would be funny to get kuwei sloppy drunk and he’s never drunk alcohol or trusted kaz since (kaz filmed him trying to make out with jesper and sent it to wylan and so began the rivalry) tries a lil too hard to be in with the dregs. he doesn’t wait for anyone’s permission to do anything. always runs out of data on his phone. has at least 5k photos on his phone, at all times. dabs unironically

[katherin28v16-blog]

Finland, South Korea Top Country Rankings, U.S. Rated Standard.

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Colombia has actually enrolled 42,706 scenarios of people corrupted along with Zika, consisting of 7,653 in pregnant women, the nation's National Health Principle disclosed on Sunday. Considering that the government of a variety of African countries is actually corrupting, they perform not develop adequate jobs for the residents. The graph above series white as well as black United States's viewpoints on obtaining genetic equal rights. Black Americans are actually named African Americans and they are actually properly taught additionally. With the end of the American Civil Battle in 1865, the majority of former servants distanced themselves coming from the popular music of their bondage. On the Hot Country Songs poll it elevated 9-7 in its own 31st structure. On 29 August 2016 he acquired the National Typical Country Music Association 2016 Lifetime Success Award at the 41st Annual Old Time C And W Event in LeMars, Iowa. Who was this Kaiser Franz, so cherished of his people, and also what was his race? In behalf of all the non-black American artists who have been influenced by African United States music roots (Which is actually virtually everybody) Thanks! Fact # 6- "Ray Charles" actually performed country in his early years of songs as well as he liked it till the day he passed away. The American individuals would do themselves a significant benefit by reading his pep talk. As well as all at once, there were actually many, several brave individuals in America that withstood the toxin. The United States was a brand-new country and free to change in any case it yearned for without meticulous regulations from an authoritarian authorities. As a matter of fact, there were actually blacks among the Spanish vanquishers who penetrated what we know today as Latin United States. Wellington also features NZ's nationwide museum, Te Papa, an impressive inner city nature get, animals shelter, as well as numerous other points. Edinburgh is actually an area where I will really love to live. A first-ever international research study finds large injustice of accessibility to as well as top quality of medical care among and within countries, and also ends individuals are dying from sources along with widely known treatments.

Cancer cells was actually even more commonly a deadly amongst African-Americans, that "possess the highest death price for all cancers cells incorporated compared with whites," said the file. Now, according to a file in the Korea Moments, the South Oriental government is actually taking a look at techniques to gather tax obligations coming from foreign firms in the wake of domestic problems about the technique.

Merely a glimpse at the day-to-day lives of day-to-day individuals. However she only came to be a household name at some time after "The Viewpoint" ended up being a must-see, daytime television talk show. A country and western ticket - purchase all of them a ticket (or two) for their beloved country and western celebrity's online efficiency.

[wfitvacations]

Weight Loss Camps Are Predicted To Be 2021’s Hottest Travel Trend. Here’s Why.

Inspiring trips are on the horizon for Canada’s multi-billion dollar wellness travel industry.

West Coast Fitness Vacations brings you the best weight loss camps and wellness travel ideas to finish the year strong. This is a must-read roundup from leading experts in luxury wellness travel, and my personal opinion. I feel confident in sharing my opinion about what’s hot in weight loss camps and wellness retreats, as the owner of W Fit Vacations. But hey, let’s see how the Fall unfolds. I, like many Canadians, am bracing myself for what the virus might do. Nobody really knows.

Meanwhile, our wellness retreats are booking steadily as we reopen in September. As a business owner, I try not to think this is luck. Just like I stay on top of the latest fitness research as a personal trainer, I do the same with wellness travel. Here’s why I believe a well-delivered residential weight loss program should be on the bucket list of every woman.

BROWSE UPCOMING WEIGHT LOSS CAMPS

Weight loss camps check all the boxes

From social-distanced vacations to big scary adventure trips, the trend is shifting in how we see travel. Now more than ever, travellers want to be responsible (and safe) in their wellness retreat and health spa choices. Gone are the days where feeling good is just about what we get. Now it’s about how we get it, and if it’s given to us ethically without damaging something we care about.

For example, we’re not going to buy Made In China outfits if there’s a possibility that sweat shops were used for the labor. We’re not going to stay in a glorious hotel that doesn’t recycle. And – best of all – we going to give back in some way, as part of our trip. Whether that’s supporting a local business to get back on track after covid closures (hey – that’s me!!)... or.. well, anything else really. Carbon offsetting, micro-cations, green hotels and multiple usage of plastic bottles – if we have to use them at all. Women-only trips because we never can have enough sisterhood.

The list is growing, but with all good intentions come a few logistics that can get in the way. Read on!

VANCOUVER ISLAND RESIDENTIAL WEIGHT LOSS CAMP (BIGGEST LOSER STYLE) – 1-4 MONTHS

Discovering wonders in your backyard

“From a big boom in staycations as we look to explore the treasures close to home, to social-distancing escapes in crowd-free places, these are the top travel trends for 2021, according to experts. We expect this domestic travel trend to continue into next year as we grow to appreciate the wonders on our doorsteps.” – Good Housekeeping

Small group travel is on trend – even more when it’s to less known places. And now, more than ever with all of us ‘staying in our bubble’ we can’t feel comfortable joining a tour. Weight loss camps address one tiny problem of small group travel to exotic destinations – you have to be in shape to go there!

What if you’re hiking around Petra in Jordan and all of a sudden, have crazy bad shin splints. Should you keep walking to keep up with the group? Okay that’s an odd example, but the bottom line is, when you adventure too far away, your health should be in top shape. If it’s not, attending weight loss camps first is a pretty smart plan.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN LIVE AT A WEIGHT LOSS RESORT FOR 2-6 MONTHS?

Some travel trends pose problems for those who are not in shape

TREND: Pet friendly travel. PROBLEM: Most small-group travel is not pet-friendly

TREND: More adventurous travel choices. PROBLEM: People need to be in shape to do that.

TREND: Fitness and yoga retreats open for all levels. PROBLEM: Pace might be too fast, leading to injury. What to do with the rest of your trip?

TREND: Hotels that feel like home. PROBLEM: Unless the hotel has a kitchen, it’s not really like home.

TREND: Sustainable hospitality companies. PROBLEM: Some tour companies lodge you in hotels that aren’t green, as part of their pre-built package.

THIS DOG FRIENDLY FITNESS RETREAT, TAILORS AN EPIC HIKING ADVENTURE

Wholesome travel experiences 

There’s more awareness than ever about our carbon footprint, and the impact that jet-setting has on the environment. Sustainable travel is steering people away from over-populated destinations, with wholesome experiences (that connect with the local people) on the rise.

An increasing number of people are embracing the vegetarian and vegan lifestyle, therefore demand for destinations with great meat-free restaurants and hotels is predicted to increase. In fact, a survey by Sainsbury’s in the summer of 2019 predicted that 25 per cent of Brits would be vegetarian or vegan by 2025.

West Coast Fitness Vacations in B.C., Canada follows a plant-based meal plan, that encourages their guests to eat less meat.

Active Vacations Are Heading To New Heights

Travel companies like Exodus and Expedia are seeing a boom in small-group journeys to less known places. Popular mountain resorts are losing their self-guided traveler appeal as the obvious trails become over crowded. Local guiding companies that offer hiking tours and progressive fitness camps for adults – not just kids – is predicted to increase especially.

Yet theres one problem that arises. Active vacations may be too much of a physical stretch, if fitness levels are not where they need to be. It sounds amazing to want to trek to Machu Picchu or Victoria Falls, but these well-trodden places often require quite a bit of base fitness to achieve the walking component comfortably.

Whistler Fitness Vacations is an example of a hiking vacation that takes their guests to untouched, natural terrain away from the crowds. Located in beautiful British Columbia, Canada, the program is led by certified personal trainers who are also experienced outdoor guides. This double qualification requirement might be hard to find in your average hiking guide. It ensures that trails are safe for each participants fitness ability.

Think You’re Too Out-Of-Shape For A Hiking Vacation? Think Again!

Hands up if you’ve scrolled past one too many pictures of women on health retreats – and thought “I”d never keep up with her on a hike!”

Sure, the health retreat promises different levels of ability. Yet if the pace ranges from a 20-year old college athlete down to a grandmother (with two hip replacements) that might not be the reality – even if the intention. Feeling like a burden is the last thing you want!

In a trek last year to Everest Base Camp, I saw a lot of really disappointed tour groups. Many felt either held back from slower people, or felt rushed from faster people and both predicaments are not a good place to be in.

Somehow when you’re slogging it in the back of the pack, you start wishing that you chose a Caribbean cruise or to Mexico for margarita’s instead.

LUXURY BEGINNER HIKING & WELLNESS SPA RETREAT IN WHISTLER – 1-2 WEEKS

Pets In The Priority Lane

Travel website booking.com predicts that 2020 will see many more travellers putting their pets needs as top priority, when it comes to choosing a getaway. Searching for tour companies where you can bring your beloved fur baby is pretty challenging, making independent travel for those with pets usually the best option.

Dog friendly hotels are easy to find these days, although it is pretty restrictive to take your dog everywhere with you. My prediction is that pet-sitting in hotels will become a booming business! And with 55% of global pet owners saying that their pet is as important to them as their children, dogs especially are being taken seriously when it comes to hotel and flight amenities.

Dogs on vacation is becoming more normal than ever, and 42% of global pet owners say they would choose holiday destinations based on whether they can take their pets. Reflecting this trend, 49% say they’d be willing to pay more to stay at an accommodation that’s pet-friendly. Accommodations around the world will continue to look for innovative pet-tailored offerings.

THIS DOG FRIENDLY FITNESS RETREAT, TAILORS AN EPIC HIKING ADVENTURE

Long-Term Adventure Travel

Nearly half (47%) of global travellers plan to be more adventurous in their travel choices once they’ve retired. Almost a fifth (19%) of those who are already retired are planning to travel for several months without interruption, something that over half (52%) of all travellers agree that you can do at any age. Expect to see products that help travellers kick-start the planning process. – Booking.com

This research was independently conducted by booking.com by a sample of adults who’ve taken a trip in the past year. In total 22,000 respondents were polled (including 1,000 each from 29 counties) in August 2019.  

Yet with adventure in the hearts of many, it’s important to be in good physical shape before venturing off on your trip. Trekking, hiking, biking, traveling long hauls on buses and eating from foreign menus is hard work. Pre-trip planning will really make the world of difference.

People are getting smarter in their trip planning, and making the first stop to the new chapter to a hiking weight loss retreat will definitely see a rise in upcoming years.

NO GYM REQUIRED! CAT SMILEY’S WEIGHT LOSS BOOT CAMP IS 100% OUTSIDE (EVEN IN WINTER)

Live-In Fitness Programs Feel Like Home (The Healthier Version!)

Travellers today want to stay in hotels that feel homely, and rightly so! After a full day exploring, it’s nice to cosy up by the fire with your dog while skyping with your family back home. Whistler Fitness Vacations is ahead of the trend on this one, having run intensive month-long stays in a gorgeous hotel.

Each guest has their own full kitchen in every suite, which makes it easier to eat familiar foods. For me, one of the stresses of constantly being on the move is having to find healthy restaurants or cafes every time I want to eat. Like everyone, I enjoy being pampered from time-to-time but am quite content to make my own meals when away from home.

When I developed the program, this was an important factor to consider. I toured all the hotels in Whistler and chose the Westin greatly for the reason that each suites kitchen is super nice.

20 SMALL TIPS FROM OUR BEST WELLNESS RETREATS – TO MAKE TODAY MORE MEANINGFUL

Sustainable Hotels Are On The Rise

Sustainability will be a key factor in successful brand management of hotels, as it’s one of the most important global issues facing the world right now. And, hotels will advance their sustainability mission to fuel their corporate social responsibility efforts and establish trust. Sustainability is a win-win for both planet and profits as environmental responsibility is increasingly becoming a guest preference. – Trivago

Trivago also shares that travel trends in 2020 will continue to see guests doing their part for sustainability. Energy-saving schemes will increasingly reward hotels with green campaigns. This extends into construction, with smart buildings digitizing facilities, reducing plastic usage and saving water. Guests are increasingly eager to do their part for sustainability, embracing campaigns to reuse bathroom towels and request less frequent bed linen changes.

The Westin Resort & Spa, Whistler is one hotel that paves the way in sustainability.

With a full paper, cardboard, glass and beverage container recycling program. Water saving toilets and faucets can be found in all guest rooms. Gently used linens, soap bars and toiletries are donated to charity. You’re steps away from the gondola, Starbucks and all the most exciting things about our town.

It’s the perfect place for a hiking retreat with stunning wilderness during the day and contemporary hospitality at night!

HOW TO FIND YOUR PERFECT WEIGHT LOSS CAMP IN CANADA (ASK THESE 10 QUESTIONS)

Recharge, Reboot And Turn Your Life Around

At our health retreat there’s nothing to worry about in your day-to-day activities. We meet you around 8.30am and the day unfolds with everything taken care of for you.

From arranging transportation to the best hiking trails in Whistler, guided paces that suit you and fabulous outdoor fitness classes. You’re in control of your meal choices, so that you can return home and continue eating better.

West Coast Fitness Vacations runs with a 5-day schedule, giving flexibility in the weekend to do whatever your heart desires. We’ve had guests lose up to 72 pounds during their 8 week stay here – gosh, can you only imagine how great she felt? Click here to read about our many happy customers who share their stories of inspiration.

DID YOU KNOW THAT YOU CAN LIVE AT A WEIGHT LOSS RESORT FOR 2-6 MONTHS?

Feeling Safe In Your Pace Is Crucial

Wellness retreats are a wonderful launching point for those who feel too out-of-shape to join a regular tour, like biking in Vietnam or hiking in Tuscany. You have the security of group pace being one where everyone is here to improve their fitness.

The structured guidance is an important element to consider when looking for the best weight loss retreat for you. This is usually the difference between the programs out there, from Thailand to USA, Australia to Canada. Some programs have 100+ classes to choose from in the week, and the guests go to the ones they feel like – whether of not it’s to their benefit.

Health spa programs and weight loss camps usually have a mix of meditation, yoga, medical professionals and beauty treatments sandwiched into a busy activity schedule. Look carefully at what the core of the program offering is – the fitness leaders must be ready to meet you at your level.

WEST COAST FITNESS VACATIONS – OUR SAFETY PLAN FOR REOPENING

The post Weight Loss Camps Are Predicted To Be 2021’s Hottest Travel Trend. Here’s Why. appeared first on West Coast Fitness Vacations.

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[placetobenation]

At no time in pop culture history was there as much superstar power in the music world than in the 1980s. Icons from MJ to Prince, Madonna to U2, Lionel Richie to Bon Jovi dominated the charts and used the power of the phenomenon called MTV to make their mark on music throughout the decade. Consumers shelved their album collections and switched over to portable cassette tapes and the newly-introduced format of compact discs, even for singles. The advent of Sony’s Walkman brought high-quality audio to people on the go and no 80s kid was without one.

Radio listeners remember the weekly hit countdowns on Casey Kasem’s American Top 40 and TV shows like Solid Gold; and songs from the decade continue to permeate the headspace of people to this day via the soundtracks of flashback TV shows such as the Goldbergs, Stranger Things and GLOW. Though pop music stayed fairly universal, College Rock and New Wave developed into Alternative Music throughout the 80s and eventually worked their way into the mainstream. Hair Bands and R&B musicians fought it out for chart dominance, while Rap and Hip Hop artists became household names. Songs, albums, and even the music videos from the decade are fondly remembered as part of the fabric of the era.

  We here at PTBN aren’t immune to the nostalgia. Crimp that hair and pull on your leg warmers. Get ready for the ultimate, way-bitchin’ totally rad tournament of songs of the 1980’s! – Todd Weber

Here is how the process works. The first round will consist of 64 groups of 80s songs. This is consistent with the group format used in the World Cup. The total number of 80s songs in the entire tournament is 650 and was vetted with PTBN staff members and non-staff music experts. It is possible that an individual’s personal favorite song didn’t make the cut, but we feel confident at PTBN that these 650 songs cross all genres and are representative of the sound of the decade, including criteria across success, longevity and impact on pop culture. From each group, FIVE 80s songs are to be voted on to advance to the next round.

So enjoy the journey, watch the videos, relive some memories and then cast your votes… Let the games begin!

PLEASE SELECT FIVE IN EACH GROUP BELOW

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

[2traveldads-blog]

This post about summer travel packing and family friendly kid products is sponsored by Johnson’s Baby, one of our staple brands at home and on the road.

Summer is totally underway.  We’ve already had trips to Disneyland, Wisconsin, Florida and more.  That means that we’ve honed down our travel packing, daily prep on the road, and go-to supplies.  We’ve got our favorite kid products and dad products to share and hopefully you’ll find something new that’ll make your summer days easier and breezier, particularly when it comes to not stressing out about what makes products worthwhile for your family.

What we always look for when we are choosing the products to use in our family is what is going to be safe but also what is it going to be sustainable and last for a long time. Kids are hard on things and so are us dads so we have to choose products that aren’t going to be a waste, whether it’s our sunblock or sunglasses. And we travel a lot so finding things that are lightweight and that can be smashed repeatedly is important to us well, just look at what it is that we always travel with…

Kid products: sunscreen to soaps

Of all of the kid products we’ve researched and actually use on a weekly basis with our kids, Johnson’s Baby and Neutrogena are always in the mix.  As babies both of our kids had very sensitive skin so we’ve always opted for the most gentle options possible, from oatmeal bath products to baby sunblock.  

When it comes to kid products that protect them from the sun, Neutrogena Pure and Free has been our standard. The two reasons we use the Pure and Free are:

Gentle and effective for the kids

It’s titanium dioxide and zinc oxide based which are both ocean-safe components. Protecting our underwater environment is very important to us.

Since we live by the beach we are there constantly.  That means that we’re applying sunblock daily, and even though the Neutrogena Pure and Free is gentle and we trust it, we still give the kids baths whenever we get home from a day in the sand.  

Tip:  any sunblock you use is going to introduce some form of chemical base to your kids’ skin, so picking the most gentle AND effective product is always our goal. No matter how gentle though, we’re diligent about washing it off when we’re done in the sun.

Johnson’s Head-to-Toe has been our other go-to brand with the kids.  It’s the bath time soap we use.  It’s the lotion the kids have in their bathroom.  And it’s the lotion we dads use for our own dry skin, because why should the kids get all the good stuff?

While there are products out there labeled as all natural and organic and not all of the bath and lotion products we use are labeled as such, we’ve done our research and made decisions we’re comfortable with when it comes to the kid products we have in our home.

Why Johnson’s Baby in our house?

If you’re a parent or guardian of a youngster, you know that others will repeatedly question the things you do or the products you use with your kids.  We have always used the Johnson’s Baby products because they’re the most gentle and effective ones we’ve found.  

If you poll a large group of parents you’ll get mixed messages of what’s important when they’re picking out the products they’ll use with their kids, but at the top is always safety.  Like with anything in life there are opposing sides, studies, and views about what ingredients are safest.  You’ll find information about naturally occurring chemicals in fresh fruits and veggies that you eat everyday also being used or synthesized in skin care products; but then you’ll read that synthetic compounds aren’t healthy or safe and some studies suggest against their use. Mixed info everywhere about kid products. 

That’s why we research and talk with our parent friends about just this; we care deeply about our kids’ safety and happiness.  We keep Johnson’s products around because we’ve found them to work well with our kids’ sensitive skin types and we’ve built up trust with them, both from our experience and our own research.

That’s something every parent needs to do:  research the products they’re using and find their comfort level with what products are more safe for their kids than others, including considerations like sunblock vs sunburns.  There is so much contrasting study information that, for us, it has always come down to opting for gentle and effective despite some of the information floating around on the internet, particularly because we’re using products in moderation. We feel good about our approach.

Hats for kids: stylish and protective

Another line of defense we always have with us, either to protect from the sun or the cold, is a hat for each of the kids.  We always aim for a big brim and a little flash.  Since the kids have been small we’ve had a wide range of crazy fun hats from Little Hotdog Watson in the UK.  They make the most fun hats for children with flaps that roll down to protect little necks from sunburn, newsie-style caps and more.

Also, we’ve found that our oldest prefers a Gilligan style fishing cap which provides great coverage for his face and neck.  It’s nice to see him choosing his own fashion to protect himself in the hot sun.  Hats are one of the most important kid products we ensure we always have, so embracing fun ones is a travel necessity.

Tip:  adults need hats too, FYI.  I’m bald so always have a hat when traveling… but I’m never quite as stylish as the kids.

Just like we recommend doing your research about the personal care products you use with your kids, the same goes for keeping kids safe and cool in the sun.  If you’re not sure about how much sun/exposure is too much for your kids, don’t hesitate to ask a pediatrician.  That’s what they’re there for.

Eye protection

Since we love to spend time kayaking and hiking with the kids, we also are sure to always travel with sunglasses for them (and us).  When it comes to kids’ eyes you cannot be too safe.  If you start to research kids’ sunglasses you’ll find that most will come with UV ratings.  We aim to always purchase sunglasses for kids and adults with a rating of UV 400.

Note:  this rating is in reference to the types of UV rays the sunglasses block.  Other positive characteristics to look for are blue blockers and anti-glare lenses, as these also protect eyes from potentially dangerous rays.

And don’t forget that yes, sunglasses are important, but so is using sunblock to keep kids safe while you’re traveling.  It’s a winning combo. (see above for our recommendation of Neutrogena Pure and Free to pair with proper eye-wear)

For us adults, we have a few pairs of Simply Amevie sunglasses that we love.  We wear them for their coverage, their polarized lenses and their UV blockage rating of 100%. The added bonus to wearing our Simply Amevie glasses is that they’re super light on your face.  The frames are all made from bamboo, which are both lightweight and sustainable.  I love when friends pick our sunglasses up and comment how light they are.

Tip:  find stylish pairs of sunglasses that you AND your kids like and they will most likely not be left behind when you travel!  We’ve made it a habit to always pack sunglasses in backpacks and next to each kid’s car seat.

Backpacks and luggage

The final products that we are pretty selective in are our travel packs. We are always on the go so we’ve selected luggage and backpacks that suit our varying needs.  

To ensure that the kids have a sense of pride in their packs, we let them each pick out their own suitcases.  The requirement was that they had wheels and that the kids would be cool with lugging them around.  They picked Trunkis and thank goodness they love them!  Also, for trips up to ten days, they’re the perfect size for the amount of clothes needed.  And they fit as carry-ons!

For a good backpack, we looked to REI and tested several until we found one that met our criteria:

fits as a carry-on

has adjustable shoulder straps (internally adjustable)

has hip supports. 

These attributes makes for a much more comfortable carry and ultimately have proven effective for long haul transport through China, the Caribbean, and more!

Oh yes! And be sure that you select one that has a good safety compartment for the personal care products you bring.  Even though we love to just carry-on, we do often check the bag that has our Johnson’s Baby products, toothpaste and more, particularly if we’re superseding the liquid rules. We’re really careful about how we pack our products so there’s no mess when we open our pack after flying.

Tip:  things to look for in a luggage backpack are good padding at pressure points, many different adjustment options, and lightweight when empty.

The bonus with the particular REI pack we chose is that there is an additional small pack that’s a part of it.  It’s been great to have the second pack for keeping kid products for plane rides and impromptu outings handy.  And since it’s from REI, if there’s ever a problem with it REI will help you out!  Bummer here is that our favorite pack isn’t available anymore, but now you know what to look for.

Consider yourself set up for success!  We’re pretty good about making confident decisions when it comes to the travel and kid products we use.  We’ve done a lot of research when it comes to the products we put on our kids’ bodies, which is why we’re glad to partner with Johnson’s baby to share our own tips. And even though hats, glasses and packs are in a different category than personal care products, they all work together to protect us and keep us healthy while traveling.  Now, get yourself squared away with your travel gear and products and go have fun!

Want to pin this for when it’s time to get your family ready for some travel and kid products you can feel good about? Go for it!

Go-to products for traveling with kids: sunblock to sunglasses, what’s in the bag… This post about summer travel packing and family friendly kid products is sponsored by Johnson’s Baby…

[shawnkopelakis]

Thankful for These Past 8 Years

It was over eight years ago, early November in 2008. My family was in Florida on vacation. Our kids were two years old and eight months old and this was the first trip with both of them to see the rest of the family back home. My boys were the stars of the trip and took up all the attention with grandparents, aunts and uncles, leaving me time for something else. I spent a portion of two days knocking on doors in Brevard County canvassing for a presidential hopeful I believed could bring us hope and change. Now eight years later, I’m so proud and honored to have been a part of Barack Obama’s journey.

I’ve always been a political junkie. I was born three months after Richard Nixon’s resignation. My first memory of politics was election night in 1980 when the family TV showcased the unveiling of the Reagan Revolution with Ronald Reagan’s landslide victory over President Jimmy Carter. Little did I know, at almost six years old, just how those ultra-conservative policies being ushered in would shape my beliefs and passions for life in fighting against them.

I was in fifth grade during the next presidential election and I remember that we followed it very closely in my favorite elementary school teacher Mrs. Neuenschwander’s class. I was a supporter of Walter Mondale, but much like the rest of the country, most everyone else supported Reagan. My freshman year of high school in 1988 saw Michael Dukakis (a fellow Greek, yes!) take his turn dashing my political hopes and dreams.

By the time 1992 rolled around, I was old enough to know more about the whole election process. This was the first time I was really aware of the primary system and thanks again to two great high school teachers, Mr. Whitaker and Mr. Liebman, I felt very confident in my knowledge of the issues and the candidates. In the primary, I was a huge supporter of Jerry Brown. This was my first taste of a grassroots campaigner, someone who seemed to be way outside the establishment, fighting for the poor and the under-served. Once again, I picked the losing horse as Brown eventually fell by the wayside to Bill Clinton (amazing that some 18 years later, I’d cast a vote for Brown as Governor of California!). I arrived at the University of Florida that fall and regrouped to support Clinton. It would be my first taste of victory on the Presidential stage but it was somewhat bittersweet. My November 11th birthday meant that I was eight days shy of being eligible to vote in the ‘92 election.

It wasn’t until 1996 when I was nearly 22 years old, a veteran of watching four previous elections, that I was finally able to vote. I remember the church polling place off Williston Road where I punched the ballot and the joy at displaying the “I Voted” sticker on my shirt. The Clinton years from 1993-2001 were as influential as any time in my life. They included my college years, my graduation, the formation of lifelong friendships that are like a brotherhood and my big move to California. They cemented my core beliefs in what our government and country should be, a place of hope and opportunity for all citizens, not just the rich or the white or the male.

I moved to California in March of 2000 amid the campaign between George W. Bush and Al Gore. I registered to vote in my new state despite knowing that my vote was now essentially meaningless on the national scale and then watched in horror (and some humor) at the embarrassment that was the Florida vote and recount. My one vote back in my home state would not have made the difference but I still felt ashamed and guilty nonetheless. After Bush’s disastrous eight years in office, I knew that I had to do more next time around.

Which leads me back to why I wanted to write something today in the first place. Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign was the most electric and exhilarating campaign perhaps in American history. The young people, the diversity, the embrace of ALL was intoxicating. I had to be a part of it and I knew that Florida might once again be the crucial state. The polls, which I now obsessively tracked every day, were close, especially in Florida. So as we planned when to take our boys on their first trip to see most of our family, I thought about the election and whether or not I could help. We booked the trip to spend Halloween through election day in the Sunshine State, cast our own ballots early (mostly so we could make sure to vote against the hateful Prop 8 since we knew Obama would easily win CA) and then I reached out to the campaign to offer my services. I spent portions of two days walking the streets in mostly-white, mostly-conservative Melbourne. The campaign had a comprehensive list of undecided and independent voters so I wasn’t necessarily approaching any hostile doors. And yet, as I walked by one house, an older white man asked me what I was doing. I said I was talking to people about the election and Barack Obama. He replied to me that he was voting for George Wallace (the infamous Alabama segregationist and racist). I didn’t flinch and kept knocking on doors knowing that some people just weren’t going to even consider a black President.

On the night of November 4, 2008, my wife Holly, her mother Lori and I were glued to the television as the election results were coming in. When Florida was called for Obama, I burst into tears knowing he had won the election. I was so proud of my country and my fellow citizens. It seemed like we had accomplished something so many had never thought possible and that now, we could potentially and truly change the world.

Alas, these past eight years haven’t gone exactly to plan. The obstruction against Obama began almost immediately, a lot of it fueled by racist undertones. He hasn’t been able to accomplish everything he wanted and a lot of what we hoped for. And there are certainly aspects of his presidency like the increase of the surveillance state that I do not agree with. 

But despite the least productive Congress in history, one hellbent on only denying Obama any “victory”, the President was able to enact great, historic measures. He ended the Great Recession and saved our economy from the brink of disaster. Employment is way down with the longest streak of net job creation in our nation’s history. Obamacare, as Americans are finally starting to realize now that it is being threatened, is a positive first step toward ensuring all Americans have affordable access to healthcare. It was a landmark accomplishment 40 years in the making, a plan that was originally proposed by conservative Republicans only for them to turn against it once Obama endorsed it. Other accomplishments include criminal justice reforms aimed at reducing our prison state and ending the racial bias in arrests and sentences. Obama’s actions on green energy and climate change, marriage equality and LGBT rights, nuclear non-proliferation and the deal with Iran are all transcendent acts that have made us a better, stronger nation. Oh and did you forget he oversaw the killing of Osama Bin Laden?

Regardless of all those acts, the thing that made Obama so special to so many was his grace, his humility, his empathy and his compassion. I’ll never forget his tearful speech after Newtown. In the face of constant attacks, some to his face (”You lie”) and many behind his back (racist jokes and cartoons about him and his family shared via email and social media by disgusting, pathetic people), Obama never flinched. He was so eloquent in every speech, so charming and funny in every public appearance, so cool and hip in every interaction on talk shows and online skits with celebrities, musicians and athletes. He was a President who valued intellectual curiosity and never felt threatened by others, to the point of putting known adversaries like Hillary Clinton and Robert Gates in his cabinet.

When I think of President Obama, I’m going to think of all of these things and more. He was the coolest dude on the planet and also one of the nerdiest, something I’ve tried to balance throughout my entire life. When he said earlier this week that “it has been the honor of my life to serve you”, my heart surged. I thought to myself “No Mr. President, it has been the honor of our lives to have you serve us”.

On this last day of your historic and successful presidency, thank you Mr. President for everything.